The objectives of this study are: (i) To measure the prevalence of fluorosis according to Dean's index in Irish 15 year olds living in fully fluoridated areas of Ireland (ii) To determine whether the 15 year olds had noticed any marking according to the degree of fluorosis of their teeth.
Methods:
A team of trained and calibrated dentists examined a representative sample of 2,060 15 year old subjects in fully fluoridated areas in Ireland as part of the National Survey of Children's Oral Health in 2002 (sponsored by the Department of Health and Children) (Whelton, et al., 2006). Dean's index was used to classify fluorosis into one of six grades: Normal, Questionable, Very Mild, Mild, Moderate and Severe. The teeth were examined wet and in natural light.
The 15-year-olds were asked “Are you happy with the colour of your front teeth?” and “Have you noticed any brown, creamy or white marks on your front teeth?”
Results:
In fully fluoridated areas of Ireland in 2002, the prevalence of fluorosis in 15 year olds was: 63% normal, 20% questionable, 10% very mild, 5% mild and 2% moderate. 32 %, 41%, 46%, 59% and 70%, of 15-year-olds with normal, questionable, very mild, mild, and moderate fluorosis respectively, had noticed marks on their teeth. When asked, 51%, 52%, 46% and 44% of those with normal, questionable, very mild and mild fluorosis claimed to be “happy with the colour” of their front teeth whereas only 19% of those with moderate fluorosis were.
Conclusions: Reported observation of marks on the teeth increased with increasing levels of fluorosis. Satisfaction with the colour of their front teeth also decreased as fluorosis severity increased from questionable to moderate.